Common Terms Used on Exam Questions

Do these words look familiar? Have you seen them on tests before? Use these
terms when creating summary questions from your lecture notes and readings.

Agree, Take a definite stand; state an opinion on the question on an issue or

Disagree statement contained in the question. Explain persuasively, and in some
detail, why you agree or disagree.

Analyze Break down a topic into its parts and discuss the relationships that exist
between the whole (topic) and the parts. Be specific.

Compare, Show, in detail, the similarities, the differences, or the similarities and
Contrast the differences between the two topics stated in the question.

Define Give the exact meaning of a word, phrase or concept. Be specific; use
details and give examples.

Describe, Explain, in detail, what the question asks about the topic. Provide all
Discuss the pertinent information you can about the topic, using examples to
illustrate your statements.

Evaluate Make a judgment on the topic in question based on the information at

hand and your own values and experiences.

Explain Examine the topic in question based on the information at hand and
your own values and experiences.

Identify Mention the two or three most important facts about a person or subject
area. Watch for directions that ask you to identify and explain briefly.
These require more than a few facts.

Illustrate Provide five concrete examples to clarify or explain a general statement.

Outline Organize the main points and give supporting statements or details.

Prove Through support and/or illustration, show why the statement is

correct. Use persuasion, logic and reason.

Summarize Give an overview of the subject.

Trace Describe the steps or process that brought some event to pass.
 Mock Exam Worksheet

Directions: Generate exam questions using your text, lecture notes, key word diagrams,
question charts, and Learning New Terms glossary for this class. Your questions should be
in the same format as the tests for the class (i.e. multiple choice, true/false, essay, etc.).
You want it to model an actual test that your professor would write for that class. When
you are finished, take the mock exam as you would the actual test, at a desk without any
notes, etc. See how you do!